Jesus - people make an effort to be inclusive and you still find a way to moan and b***h about it. Go and find some vinegar for that massive chip on your shoulder.

I work with many children are indeed are wheelchair BOUND. They cannot move themselves out of the wheelchair. Seriously, the world does not revolve around you.

To everyone complaining about Alexandra's comment: If you're demanding your preferred language regarding the groups to which you belong, but denying one group that same right, you're a hypocrite. Alexandra finds the term 'wheelchair bound' offensive; why would you insist on continuing to use it?

Person who this affects: I don't like this term, and here's why People it doesn't affect: Actually, you're wrong.

Ohmigod the posts here! People had good intentions when they said wheelchair BOUND. I don't think the issue is being corrected to be more inclusive, it's the TONE and FRUSTRATION in the "correction". If someone clearly means well, it's hell of a lot better to educate them in a POLITE and RESPECTFUL manner. You cannot demand respect and disrespect the other person in the same sentence. Not if you genuinely WANT to be respected.

I'm so sorry that abled people are inserting themselves in this conversation and making it about them... Again! I also fully understand your ask of using wheelchair user- it's the most inclusive term. <3 please ignore the ignorant people.

Sometimes people/children who use wheelchairs are not able to move themselves from the wheelchair to a swing and back independently. Clearly the person who posted this meant well.

Wheelchair user: "I don't like this term because I feel that it inaccurately describes my condition, as it isn't true and my condition is diverse" BP users: "OMG!!!! STOP! I DON'T LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE INPUT ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOU!"

[Split comment, part 1] I didn’t say anything yesterday, but this has kept me up all night. I cannot begin to express how absolutely shocked and disappointed I am in reading some of the very ignorant comments on here. I can’t rememberer exactly how long the term ‘wheelchair user’ has been the preferred inclusive language term, but I know that we were told OVER 20 YEARS AGO that we should avoid using the term ‘wheelchair bound’ and use ‘wheelchair user’ instead. I know that it was over 20 years ago, because I remember which company I worked for at the time. Since then, many more inclusive terms have been introduced, and somehow, you’re all completely able to use those. You’re all perfectly capable of using gender neutral pronouns, you’re all perfectly capable of using ze and zer, you’re all perfectly capable of saying Sinti and Roma, you’re all perfectly able to say person of colour, native American and indigenous people, you’re all perfectly able to use terms such as …

I hear you!

Reading through the comments, I understand why people feel the way they do, on both sides of the argument, honestly ... but this whole conversation is just depressing, and I feel no hope for the future.

I'm a Special Education teacher and a volunteer at a camp for people with disabilities. I think what Alexandra (and correct me if I'm wrong) is trying to say is that people with mobility issues that use wheelchairs are using them as an accommodation, not as a punishment or by force. The term "bound" is offensive to some people who use wheelchairs because wheelchairs actually give them the freedom to live their lives. If we didn't have wheelchairs, people who have mobility needs might have to stay home all the time or be reliant on others for everything. Wheelchairs offer people with mobility issues the freedom to move around, explore the world, and interact with others. "Bound" is simply not the preferred term. The fact is, people with disabilities have been abused, taken advantage of, and discarded for so many years; they are tired of being treated as second-class citizens. Disability history in the US (I'm most familiar with it, but could be the same elsewhere) is tragic and horrible. Children and adults lost their rights, autonomy, and voice; were forced into asylums or seclusion; or were killed at birth, generally left to the elements to die.

Even those wheelchairs users who aren't able to transfer out of their wheelchair aren't bound to it - it's not like they sleep in there! I think this is more a UK/USA difference though - wheelchair user is considered the preferred term. Its giving agency to the user, as the chair is a too for getting around , rather than, as Alexandra says, a prison. Language is powerful!

Yeah wheelchair bound always pisses me off (I'm a wheelchair user). Are y'all walking bound? Lol

It says "wheelchair user" on the swing

I think everyone is missing the point. The issue is the word "bound" and the negative connotations that come with it." The verbiage of being “confined” or “bound” to a wheelchair, the idea of losing freedom, feeling confined, and the inability to participate in activities that were previously a large part of their lives leaves many feeling distressed and dejected." A wheelchair gives people freedom to do things and go places they wouldn't have necessarily been able to do without it. Like we don't call people who need glasses 24/7 glasses bound like it's some kind of burden. A lot of words traditionally used around disabilities are extremely negative in nature and so people are asking to choose the language for themselves that doesn't sound so bleak and better represents their lived experience.

Relax, this is an amazing thing and you're talking about a phrase??

oh for crying out loud...HOW do you pitch a fit about that word but still use the term Disabled ? Would it offend you to know some prefer the term Differently abled ?? so how about you let it slide until you Know For Sure they /whomever? are being actual pricks about it or even just snotty? NO ONE Reads minds these are just words used for ever and they are NOT legitimate Names for people. so not personal unless made so. We all need to check OUR Trauma before slinging it at everyone. YEAH My Self Included ! AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH pulls hair slams head into desk crying. changes sign from 21 days without verbal explosions to 0 days thank god it's a do over day tomorrow Hello stage 1 glad to see a friendly face, yeah I know I darn near broke the habit. I was self isolating, I wasn't doing shopping until 2 am to avoid all crowds, I limited Facebook time and canceled all but one streaming service Yup sticking to PBS to avoid the BS I really thought I could get on line again. sigh

You know “bound” doesn’t always mean tied or tethered to…it also means obligated, required, or reliant on.

So glad you took the opportunity to educate us with the proper vocabulary. Only through education will we be become more egalitarian in our language and behavior.

I’m sorry this comment upset you and you responded like this. I’m sure the poster meant no offense. You could have educated them with different language however I do understand your apparent frustration with how some people refer to wheelchair users.

What's the point in locking the swings? A person who doesn't "need" it would just climb in.

Not everything is about you. Not everyone is the same as you. Some people are wheelchair bound; what about them? Also, maybe the ones that are not wheelchair bound can get out and go on a normal swing, so this is only for the wheelchair BOUND- not you. Chill tf out

Waaaaaaaaaaaaa.

What lmao? damn people always find something to complain about like shut up bro.

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Quadriplegics are kinda bound